I used to frequent the TF multiple times a day back in 05/06, and a big part of that was the amount of quality designers here. Not saying that everyone isn't talented or putting anyone down directly, but the quality of posts in the market place are definitely not what they used to be, and I bet it has a direct impact on whether people stay or not.

Opening the marketplace and finding several designs for 50 dollars that are not up to par with other places on the web can turn new visitors, or returning visitors off that there are not as many like minded individuals here. Its the same theory that applies with some video games. I used to play Wow, and when they made it so everyone was able to accomplish everything, and achievements became less special, the hardcore's and talented individuals moved on. Once they moved on the next best players took there place, but also started to find the game less fascinating because the competition was meager. This continues until the majority of anyone above casuals kept playing, and then it is impossible to bring new interest into the game.

The same principal kind of applies to facebook, although facebook is forever growing. Many of the original students like myself who got on when there school was first opened on facebook no longer use it at all or at least much less. The exclusivity is gone, our parents, and younger siblings are on there and while the idea is still great, and yes it does grow, a lot of the people who helped build it are no longer active users. In the future this could also trend into a decline, but only time will tell. The analogy of Wow has 10 million or had, and facebook has nearly 1 billion. It may take a lot longer.

Point is, if you could clean up the marketplace and help reduce the spam that ends up there, and try to reignite discussion on everything else and have designers improve, it could drive new users to read and use TF. If you moderate sales, only approving quality ones, it may attract new users. It may also make current users work harder to improve, and thus increase the quality of the user base as well.

Just my 2 cents from a long time member, even if I was never "super" active, I do still frequent TF occasionally, but often click away because of what I find/or don't find.

We appreciate the feedback, thanks for taking the time to write that. We are working on ways to raise the quality of the submissions in the marketplace. It is our goal to make TF a place where one can go for quality work opposed to being one of the many places where people go in pursuit of the lowest bid.

No problem, I will make an effort to be semi-active here. It is where I spent my time when former user Digit, and I bought and started running nerdpoint (A forum sold to us by Anthony Bullock on TF). Hopefully it puts me in a good state of mind in furthering my own projects.

I agree with stan. That's the reason I signed up and posted here, there were so many good designers and the marketplace was good. I never really sold designs for much, but I improved so much from 06 to 08

@Stan, I remember when nerdpoint opened up, I used to talk to you and digit on aim/msn haha. I Won the $50 referral contest at nerdpoint

Haha Nerdpoint was awesome, had a lovely design as well! Good to hear from you again Stan . Regarding the marketplace, I most definitely agree and I think although it's an important aspect of this community we must not forget that the discussion/content is also vitally important.

Ya I am alive, life is very different since nerdpoint for myself, lived in NYC and now down in Charleston, SC with my new girlfriend. Trying to be productive and start up some projects again but it is a pain trying to write daily or even every other day. Let alone how far css has come and trying to feel adequate.

Not to put anyone down, but (coming from someone who spent more than a few dollars buying quality designs over the years) I think the quality of work produced by today's designer compared to say 05 -08 has a lot to do with it. I hardly see anything anymore that I'd be willing to buy.